Toyota Believes Hydrogen Power Will Win Le Mans

Image: Toyota

Toyota Gazoo Racing is committing to its long-running FIA WEC and Le Mans 24 hypercar program, up to and including building a next-generation car powered by hydrogen. The series had previously announced that it would allow hydrogen-powered vehicles to compete in the top flight Hypercar category, where Toyota currently races the gasoline-electric hybrid GR010, for the 2026 season, but that has now been postponed to 2028. During this year’s Le Mans festivities back in June, Toyota unveiled a preliminary look at the GR H2, the hydrogen-powered car it plans to run, shown here.

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The regulations have not yet been finalized for hydrogen power, and Toyota is patiently waiting for updates from the FIA and ACO. It isn’t yet clear if the regulations would allow for hydrogen combustion, which Toyota prefers, or if the cars must be hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. It isn’t yet clear whether the teams will be allowed to store hydrogen in liquid form aboard their race cars. And there’s no clarity regarding pit stops or stint lengths. Toyota, however, are preparing to run the race with hydrogen power regardless. Most of its eggs are in this basket.

GR H2 Racing Concept – World Premiere at Le Mans 24 Hours

In the 2028 season manufacturers who wish to enter hydrogen-powered cars will be limited to running them in just three races to help develop the program to a full season in 2029. Toyota has been running its GR010 since 2021 with minimal changes, and it says that it couldn’t possibly develop its replacement at the same time as the GR H2. Therefore, the GR010 will continue on with minor evolution until Toyota can step into a full-time hydrogen program.

“It would be very difficult. That would be two kinds of car,” John Litjens, Toyota Motorports project leader noted. “…but to develop two full cars in parallel is not possible.”

Image: Toyota

As luck would have it, Toyota is already racing a hydrogen-fueled combustion engine-powered GR Corolla in Japan’s Super Taikyu series, and even entered the same car in the Idemitsu 1500 Super Endurance event in Thailand to get some long-race testing with the machine.

ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept #32 / Hydrogen-Powered Engine – Super Taikyu 2022 Rd.7 SUZUKA

To Toyota’s credit, it probably knows more about racing with hydrogen fuel than any other automaker on the planet, and if anyone can turn that into success at Le Mans, it’ll be Toyota.